Sunday, October 11
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
All Day
Mississippi State
vs
SEC Challenge #1
Freshman Alexandra Mikhailuk went 2-0 on the final day of the SEC Challenge
State Women’s Tennis Concludes SEC Challenge On High Note
October 11, 2020 | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Mississippi State women's tennis capped its final day at the SEC Challenge Sunday, highlighted by two thrilling three-set singles victories from Alexandra Mikhailuk and Lilian Poling. Play was held indoors at Alabama's Baumgardner Tennis Facility due to rainy and windy conditions outdoors.
The Bulldogs went 11-8 overall in their opening weekend of fall action, including an 8-5 record in singles and 3-3 ledger in doubles. Freshman Marta Falceto led State in overall win percentage (.800) with a perfect 2-0 record in singles and 2-1 mark in doubles. The freshman Mikhailuk also contributed four victories to the Bulldogs' win column in the three-day event.
In Sunday's singles action, the senior transfer Poling rallied from a set down to oust UK's Salsa Aher. After dropping the first 7-5, Poling claimed the next two sets 6-4 and 6-3, winning the last two games of the second - and last three of the third - for the victory.
Mikhailuk jumped out to a strong start, taking the first set from Kentucky's Elizabeth Stevens 6-4. Stevens responded by taking the second set 7-5, but Mikhailuk fought hard in the third with the match on the line, breaking Stevens at 4-4 and then serving out a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 triumph.
In State's only other singles match of the day, sophomore Tamara Racine was down 6-2, 2-0 against Akvilė Paražinskaitė of Kentucky when she was forced to retire.
In doubles action which started the day, State's freshman duo of Falceto and Mikhailuk opened day three of the event with an impressive 6-2 triumph over Kentucky's tandem of Aher and Maialen Morante. Falceto and Mikhailuk led the Bulldogs with two doubles wins in the opening weekend.
In a very tight match, Poling and Racine ultimately fell to UK's tandem of Lesedi Jacobs and Anastasia Tkachenko in a tiebreaker 7-6(0).
"Today was a solid day for the Bulldogs. It was highlighted by a couple of gritty wins by Alex and Lilian," MSU head coach Daryl Greenan said. "I am happy with the overall effort from our girls this weekend. We earned some quality wins and gained some much needed match experience. We are looking forward to hosting next weekend."
The Bulldogs return home to host SEC and ITA Southern Region foes – Alabama and Ole Miss – in the Hail State Classic this Friday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 18.
For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
MSU at the 2020 SEC Challenge - October 11, 2020
Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Doubles
Lesedi Jacobs/Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) def. Lilian Poling/Tamara Racine (MSU) 7-6(0)
Marta Falceto/Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Salsa Aher/Maialen Morante (UK) 6-2
Singles
Akvilė Paražinskaitė (UK) def. Tamara Racine (MSU) 6-2, 2-0, ret.
Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Lilian Poling (MSU) def. Salsa Aher (UK) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
The Bulldogs went 11-8 overall in their opening weekend of fall action, including an 8-5 record in singles and 3-3 ledger in doubles. Freshman Marta Falceto led State in overall win percentage (.800) with a perfect 2-0 record in singles and 2-1 mark in doubles. The freshman Mikhailuk also contributed four victories to the Bulldogs' win column in the three-day event.
In Sunday's singles action, the senior transfer Poling rallied from a set down to oust UK's Salsa Aher. After dropping the first 7-5, Poling claimed the next two sets 6-4 and 6-3, winning the last two games of the second - and last three of the third - for the victory.
Mikhailuk jumped out to a strong start, taking the first set from Kentucky's Elizabeth Stevens 6-4. Stevens responded by taking the second set 7-5, but Mikhailuk fought hard in the third with the match on the line, breaking Stevens at 4-4 and then serving out a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 triumph.
In State's only other singles match of the day, sophomore Tamara Racine was down 6-2, 2-0 against Akvilė Paražinskaitė of Kentucky when she was forced to retire.
In doubles action which started the day, State's freshman duo of Falceto and Mikhailuk opened day three of the event with an impressive 6-2 triumph over Kentucky's tandem of Aher and Maialen Morante. Falceto and Mikhailuk led the Bulldogs with two doubles wins in the opening weekend.
In a very tight match, Poling and Racine ultimately fell to UK's tandem of Lesedi Jacobs and Anastasia Tkachenko in a tiebreaker 7-6(0).
"Today was a solid day for the Bulldogs. It was highlighted by a couple of gritty wins by Alex and Lilian," MSU head coach Daryl Greenan said. "I am happy with the overall effort from our girls this weekend. We earned some quality wins and gained some much needed match experience. We are looking forward to hosting next weekend."
The Bulldogs return home to host SEC and ITA Southern Region foes – Alabama and Ole Miss – in the Hail State Classic this Friday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 18.
For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
MSU at the 2020 SEC Challenge - October 11, 2020
Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Doubles
Lesedi Jacobs/Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) def. Lilian Poling/Tamara Racine (MSU) 7-6(0)
Marta Falceto/Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Salsa Aher/Maialen Morante (UK) 6-2
Singles
Akvilė Paražinskaitė (UK) def. Tamara Racine (MSU) 6-2, 2-0, ret.
Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Lilian Poling (MSU) def. Salsa Aher (UK) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
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Players Mentioned
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